Package-labeling machine.



No. 674,l4l. Patented May 14, 190i.

F. C H. STRASBURGER. PACKAGE LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed- July 5, 1900. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 674,l4l. Paitented May I4, 1901..

F. c. H. STBASBURGEB.

PACKAGE LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 5, 1900.)

4 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

PuoYouTHo" WASHINGTON, n. q

No. 674,l4|. Patented May I4, l90l. F. C. H.'ST-RASBURGER.

PACKAGE LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 5, 1900.)

4 Shuts-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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F. C. H. STRASBURGER. PACKAGE LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 5, 1900.) (No ModoL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I67 vi 27 t Y \1 vii-"1; r 17 M 22 fi 'l e a, HIIIEIII 4 3;; J? I 8 6 muuum !lllll@ 6a 7 1 18 mi%qlmum M igi I im lilllllill lmm f9 -1 V2 1 nmyl-" II) [I IIIIIIII UNrns TATES FRANK C. H. STRASBURGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PACKAGE-LABELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,141, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed July 5, 1900. Serial No. 22,552. (No model.)

' To all whom, it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRANK C. H. STRAS- BURGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Labeling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel construction in a package and bottle labeling machine, the object being to provide a machine of simple, durable, and efficient construction which will label almost every size and shape of bottle and package; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same, showing some parts in section.v Fig. 4 isa fragmentary front elevation showing the devices for affixing the labels in another position and showing a package in place on the support with the label applied. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a buffer forming part of my machine. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6 6 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the frame of my machine, which consists of parallel side plates provided with suitable bearings for shafts, &c., and left partially open to save weight. Mounted in a cross-bar 2, extending across the front of the frame, is a vertically-adjustable table 3, upon which the package to be labeled is supported. Below said table 3 is a vertically-movable rod 4, the upper end 5 of which is square and which is movable in bearings or guides 6 and 7 in cross-bars 8 and 9. Said portion 5 of said rod carries a cross-head 10, upon the outer end portions of which collars 11 are rigidly mounted, each of which is provided with par-' allel upwardly-extending lips or projections 12, between which the lower ends of arms 13 are pivotally secured. The said arms 13 are provided at their lower ends with inwardlyextending projections-14, between the lower faces of which and said collars 11 springs 15' are interposed, which serve to normally hold the upper ends of said arms at the outer limits of their motion. The outer faces of said'arms are'provided with grooves 16, into which stops 17 are adapted to project, said stops being rigidly mounted on each side of the frame and adjustable therein. A bifurcated lever 18, having forked ends 19, engaging said crosshead 10, is rigidly mounted between its ends on a shaft 20, and at its otherend carriesalug 21, entering a groove 22 in an eccentric 23, mounted upon the drive-shaft 24 of said machine. The said lever 18 imparts a reciprocating motion to said rod 4, thereby raising and lowering said arms 13, while at the same time said stops 17 and springs 15 swing said arms on their pivots. Said arms 13 are provided at their upper ends with flanges 25, to which arms 26 are bolted, the latter having overhanging portions 27, in which rods 28 are longitudinally movable parallel with said arms 13. The lower ends of said rods 28 are provided with collars 29, to the lower faces of which blocks 30, of a soft resilient material, such as sponge-rubber, are secured. Springs 31 are interposed between said collars 29 and said overhanging portions 27, so that as said blocks 30 are brought into engagement with the package on said table 3 they will exert a yielding pressure thereon. Rigidly mounted on said shaft 20 is an upwardly-extending segmental gear 32, meshing witha partially-toothed pinion 33 on a shaft 34, journaled in bearings in said frame I. Said shaft 34 carries a V-shaped arm 35, which is held practically rigid therewith by means of a spring 36 and a stop 37. The said arm swings through an arc of about one hundred and eighty degrees and serves to take labels from the label-holder 38 and deliver same to a point immediately over the package to. which the label is to be affixed. During its rearward motion a suitable paste is'applied to the ends of said arm 35 in a manner hereinafter described. Mounted upon said shaft 24 at one end is a groove-cam 39, of practically heart shape, but modified to impart desired motion to a lever 40, which engages said cam at its free end. At its other end said arm 40 is rigidly secured to a shaft 41, carrying a \l-shaped bell-crank lever 42, the free apex end of which is pivotally secured to a second bell-crank lever 43, pivotally secured between its ends to the rear end portion of a receptacle 44 for paste, which is reciprocally movable in guides 45 in the upper end of said frame 1. Journaled in the side walls of said box are two rollers 46 and 47, which are geared together, said roller 46 revolving in the paste and feeding same to said roller 47. The shaft of said roller 47 carries a ratchet-wheel 48 at one end, a lever 49, loosely mounted adjacent said roller and carrying a pawl 50, engaging said ratchet- Wheel 48. A link 51 connects the free end of said lever 49 with the other arm of said bellcrank lever 43. By means of this mechanism said rollers 46 and 47 are revolved during every forward movement of said paste-box 44 in an obvious manner. An adjustable scraper 47 is mounted on said paste-box 44 in any suitable manner and serves to regulate the thickness of the film of paste on said roller 47. By means of the connection with said cam 39 said paste-box is at regular intervals moved rapidly rearward and again more slowly forward, owing to the more gradual curvature of the return-bend in the inwardly-deflected portion of the groove in said cam 3.). In order to ease the rearward motion of said box 44, I provide two buffers, each consisting of two telescopic tubes 52 and 53, the former of which is rigidly mounted on the frame and the latter located in the path of said box 44 and carrying a rod 54, passing centrally through both tubes. A spring 55 is trained over said rod 54 and serves to normally hold said buffer in its expanded position. As said box 44 approaches the rearward limit of its movement it strikes said buffers and contracts same against the action of said springs 55, and thereby also compresses air contained in said buffers, thus absolutely preventing violent jerking.

The movements of the paste-box 44 and arm 35 are relatively so timed that the free end of said arm is brought into engagement with and brushes over the roller 47as said box moves rearwardly and then continues its rearward motion toward the label-table 38. The latter then moves upwardly to bring the uppermost label in contact with the end of said arm 35, said table being mounted upon a vertically-movable shaft 56, mounted in bearings 57 in cross-pieces 58 and 59. The said shaft 56 carries across-head 60, engaged by the forked ends of a bifurcated lever 61, mounted between its ends on a rock-shaft 62, which carries an arm 62, which at its free end engages an eccentric 63, carried by said shaft 24. Said shaft 56 is normally held at the upper limit of its movement by means of a spring 64 engaging a collar 65 thereon, said spring being also adapted to hold said arm 62 in engagement with said eccentric. Thus said label-table 38 and the free ends of said lever 35 are brought into yielding engagement with each other at regular intervals. As before stated, the said lever 35 takes each label and delivers it at a point immediately above the package to which it is to be affixed. The said label is then depressed atits middle portion and held firmly in place on the package by means of a lever 66, extending between the arms of the lever 35 and mounted on a shaft 67, carrying a crank 68 at one end. Said crank 68 carries a crank-pin 69, entering a slot 70 in a lever 71, pivoted between its ends to one of the side plates of the frame 1, and at its other end engaging a cam 72 on said shaft 24. The said lever 66 is normally held in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 by means of a tensioirspring 73, secured at one end to an arm 73 on said shaft 67 and at its other end to a rigid part of the machine. The said lever 66 is movable relatively to said shaft 67 and is normally held at one limit of its motion by a spring 74 on said shaft in a well-known manner, thus exerting a yielding pressure on the package when holding the label thereon. After said lever 66 has depressed the middle portion of the label upon the package the lever 35 begins its return motion, thus moving out of the path of the shafts 28, and the latter are then brought down upon the label, thus firmly affixing same. The lever 66 then returns to the position shown in full lines, the arms 13 again rise and move out of the path of the le ver 35, and the operation is repeated.

I claim as my inve ntion-- 1. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a package-support, devices for bringing labels consecutively over same, and devices for holding said label upon a package on said support, of vertically-movable arms carrying vertically-yielding shafts adapted to bear upon said labels to aflix the same, and devices carried by said shafts for cushioning the pressure on the package, said devices consisting of thick pads of a yielding material adapted to conform to the form of the package when pressed upon same.

2. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a package-support, and devices for feeding labels thereto and holding same on the package, of devices for affixing said labels on the package comprising vertically-movable arms carrying vertically-yielding plungers adapted to bear upon said labels with a yielding pressure to affix said labels, said plunger-s carrying devices consisting of thick pads of a yielding material adapted to conform to the form of the package when pressed upon same.

3. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with an adjustable package-support, devices for bringing labels over same, and devices for holding said labels in place on the package, of vertically-movable arms carrying vertically-yielding plungers adapted to press said labels upon the package to affix the same, and means for further cushioning the pressure of said plungers, compris- ITO ing pads carried by said plungers, said pads consisting of a thick yielding material adapted to conform to the surface of the package to which the label is to be affixed when pressed upon same.

4. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with the label-feeding mechanism, and the packagesupport, of devices for affixin g said labels comprising vertically-movable and separable arms, carrying longitudinallymovable plungers parallel with said arms, and cushions on the ends of said plungers, said plungers being adapted to exert'a yielding pressure on the package to affix the label by means of compressing-pads carried by said plungers, said pads consisting of a thick yielding material adapted to be compressed upon and conform to the contour of the surface upon which said label is to be affixed.

5. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with the label-feeding mechanism, and the package-support, of devices for affixing said labels comprising vertically-movable and separable arms, carrying longitudinallymovable plungers parallel with said arms, heads on said plungers, and springs interposed between said heads and parts of said arms to normally hold said plungers at the lower limits of their movement relatively to said arms, said plungers being adapted to exert a yielding pressure on the package in affixing the label thereto by means of compressing-pads carried by said plungers, said pads consisting of a thick yielding material adapted to be compressed upon and conform to the contour of the surface upon which said label is to be affixed.

6. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with the label-feeding mechanism, and the package-support, of devices for affixing said labels com prising vertically-m ovable and separable arms, carrying longitudinallymovable plungers parallel with said arms, cushioned heads on said plungers, and

springs interposed between said heads andparts of said arms to normallyhold said plungers at the lower limits of their movement relatively to said arms, said plungers being adapted to exert a yielding pressure on the package in affixing the label thereto by means of compressing-pads carried by said-plungers, said pads consisting of a thick yielding ma terial adapted to be compressed upon and conform to the contour of the surface upon which said label is to be affixed.

'7. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a movable paste-box and a label-support, of devices for transferring paste from said paste-box to said label-support at intervals, comprising a rock-shaft, a lever pivotally mounted thereon, a spring connecting said lever and said rock-shaft, and gearing between said rock-shaft and said paste-box, whereby the movements of said paste-box and said lever are respectively so timed that said lever will engage a part of said paste-box during its movement, to 'receive paste and then apply the same to the uppermost label on said support.

8. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a labelsupport, a packagesupport, and devices for transferring labels consecutively from said label-support to a point in vertical alinement with said package-support, of a follower adapted to engage the transferred label and clamp same upon the package on said support, and verticallyyielding plungers adapted to engage said label on each side of said follower and press same upon said package.

9. In a machine of the kind specified, the

combination with a label-holder, a packagesupport, and devices for transferring said labels consecutively to said package snpport, of devices for applying paste to said transferring devices comprising a receptacle for paste movable in guides on the frame of said machine,'a roller carried thereby and partiallyimmersed in said paste, a second roller having surface contact with said first-named roller, a shaft carrying said last-named roller and rigid therewith, a ratchet-wheel rigid on said shaft, a lever loosely pivoted on said shaft and carrying a pawl to engage said ratchet, a rock-shaft journaled in the frame of said machine, a vibrating lever carried thereby, and a bell-crank lever pivoted between its ends on said receptacle and pivotally connected at its ends with said vibrating lever and said lever carrying said pawl respectively, whereby said vibrating lever imparts a pivotal motion to said bell-crank lever and a reciprocating movement to the same and said receptacle, thereby turning said last-named roller at intervals.

10. In a machine of the kind specified, the

combination with a label-holder, a packagesupport, and devices for transferring said labels consecutively to said package-s11 pport, of devices for applying paste to said transferring devices comprising a receptacle for paste movable in guides on the frame of said machine, a roller carried thereby and partially immersed in said paste, a second roller having surface contact with said first-named roller, a shaft carrying said last-named roller and rigid therewith, a ratchet-wheel rigid on said shaft, a lever loosely pivoted on said shaft and carrying a pawl to engage said ratchet, a rock-shaft journaled in the frame of said machine, a vibrating lever carried thereby, and a bell-crank lever pivoted between its ends on said receptacle and pivotally connected at its ends with said vibrating lever and said lever carrying said pawl respectively, and alink interposed in said lastnamed connection, whereby said vibrating lever imparts a pivotal motion to said bellcrank lever and a reciprocating movement to the same and said receptacle, thereby turning said last-named roller at intervals.

11. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with the label transferring and applying devices,of a reciprocating paste-box, devices for moving same, and buffers mounted on the frame of the machine in the path of said paste-box and adapted to be engaged by the latter as it approaches the rearward limit of its motion to cushion it.

12. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a label-holder and a package-support, of a rock-shaft, an arm thereon adapted to transfer labels from said labelholder to said package-support, a segmental gear on said shaft, a second rock-shaft journaled in the frame below said firstnamed rock-shaft, a segmental gear carried by said second rock-shaft and meshing with said segmental gear on said first-named rock-shaft, and means for imparting motion to said lastnamed rock'shaft.

13. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a package-support, a labelsnpport, and plungers vertically movable over said package-support, of a drive-shaft, a cam thereon, a rock-shaft, devices common to said rock-shaft and said plungers and engaging said cam for imparting motion to both, devices for transferring labels from said labelsupport to said package-support, and devices carried by said rock-shaft for imparting motion to said label-transferring devices.

14:. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a package-support, devices for feeding labels above same, and devices for applying said labels, of a drive-shaft, a cam thereon, a rock-shaft, devices carried by said rock-shaft and engaging said cam and said label-applying devices for imparting motion to the latter and said rock-shaft, and devices carried by said rock-shaft for imparting motion to said label-feeding devices.

15. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination of the package-support, devices for feeding labels above same, and devices for applying said labels, of a drive-shaft, a rockshaft adjacent same, a lever carried by said rock-shaft and engaging said label-applying devices, devices on said drive-shaft engaging said lever for imparting motion to said labelapplying devices and said rock-shaft, a rockshaft carrying said label-feeding devices, and gearing between both said rock-shafts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK C. H. STRASBURGER.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. Lo'rz, HERMAN HIRTENSTEIN. 

